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atterberglimittest-copy-200702053343 (1)
atterberglimittest-copy-200702053343 (1)
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Atterberg Limit Test February 21, 2020
Acknowledgement
And also, I wish to thank you Ms. Sushama Malshani for teaching well about how to
do these practicals in an easy way to us before doing the lab practicals.
Finally, I wish to thank my parents & friends for their support & encouragement
throughout the completion of this report.
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Atterberg Limit Test February 21, 2020
Table of Contents
01. Calculate the water content of each of the liquid limit moisture cans
after oven-dry .......................................................................................... 19
02. Draw the best-fit straight line for the liquid limit and determine the
Liquid Limit (LL) 19
01.Calculate the water content of each of the plastic limit moisture cans
after oven-dry .......................................................................................... 21
02...... Compute the average of the water contents & determine the Plastic
Limit (PL) ............................................................................................... 21
Table of Figures
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Atterberg Limit Test February 21, 2020
Table of Tables
Table 1-Data acquired from the Liquid Limit & Plastic Limit tests ........................................ 18
Table 2-Classified the soil based on the Plastic Index (Lecture Note) .................................... 27
Table 3-Classified the soil based on the Liquid Limit (Lecture Note) .................................... 29
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Atterberg Limit Test February 21, 2020
1.0. Introduction
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06. Spatula
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3.0. Procedure
1. Roughly 200g of the soil was taken and it was placed into the porcelain dish. That the soil
was previously passed through a No. 40 sieve, air-dried and then was pulverized. The
soil was thoroughly mixed with a small amount of distilled water until it appeared as a
smooth uniform paste. (The dish was covered with cellophane to prevent moisture from
escaping.)
Figure 18-How the soil sample sieve through the No. 40 sieve
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2. Five of the empty moisture cans were weighted, and was recorded the respective weights
and can number on the datasheet.
Figure 23- Before the weight of Figure 22-How moisture cans are
3. The liquid limit apparatus was adjusted by checking the height of the drop of the cup. The
point on the cup that was come in contact with the base should rise to a height of 10 mm.
The block on the end of the grooving tool is10 mm high and it was used as a gage.
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Practiced using the cup and the correct rate to rotate the crank was determined so that the
cup was dropped approximately two times per second.
4. A portion of the previously mixed soil was placed into the cup of the liquid limit
apparatus at the point where the cup rests on the base. The soil was squeezed down to
eliminate air pockets and it was spread into the cup to a depth of about 10 mm at its
deepest point. The soil pat was formed an approximately horizontal surface.
5. Use the grooving tool was cut carefully a clean straight groove down the center of the
cup. The tool remained perpendicular to the surface of the cup as the groove was being
made. Extreme care was taken to prevent soil was slippage relative to the cup surface.
Figure 25-How the clean straight groove down the center of the cup is cut using the
grooving tool
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6. The base of the apparatus below the cup and the underside of the cup were cleaned from
the soil & it was made sure by us. The crank of the apparatus was turned at a rate of
approximately two drops per second and the number of drops, N was counted. It was
taken to make the two halves of the soil pat was came into contact at the bottom of the
groove along a distance of 13 mm (1/2 in.). If the number of drops was exceeded 50, then
go directly to step eight and did not record the number of drops, otherwise, it was
recorded the number of drops on the datasheet.
7. A sample was taken using the spatula, from edge to edge of the soil pat. The sample was
included the soil on both sides of where the groove came into contact. The soil was
placed into moisture can & it was covered. Immediately the moisture can contain the soil
was weighted, its mass was recorded, the lid was removed, and the moisture can was
placed into the oven. The moisture can was left in the oven for at least 16 hours. The soil
remaining in the cup was placed into the porcelain dish. The cup on the apparatus and the
grooving tool was cleaned and dry.
8. The entire soil specimen was remixed in the porcelain dish. A small amount of distilled
water was added to increase the water content. So that the number of drops required
closing the groove decrease.
9. The steps six, seven, and eight were repeated for at least two additional trials producing
successively lower numbers of drops to close the groove. One of the trials shall be for a
closure requiring 25 to 35 drops, one for closure between 20 and 30 drops, and one trial
for a closure requiring15 to 25 drops. The water content was determined from each trial
by using the same method that was used in the first laboratory. The same balance was
used for all weighing.
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1. The remaining empty moisture cans were weighted, and it was recorded the respective
weights and can was numbered on the datasheet.
2. The remaining of the original soil sample was taken and distilled water was added until
the soil is at a consistency where it can be rolled without sticking to the hands.
3. The soil was made into an elliptical mass. The mass was rolled between the palm or the
fingers and the glass plate. Sufficient pressure was used to roll the mass into a thread of
uniform diameter by using about 90 strokes per minute. (A stroke was one complete
motion of the hand forward and back to the starting position.)The thread was deformed so
that its diameter reaches 3.2 mm (1/8in.), taking no more than two minutes.
4. When the diameter of the thread was reached the correct diameter, the thread was broken
into several pieces. The pieces were kneaded and reform into ellipsoidal masses and they
were re-rolled. This alternate rolling, gathering together, kneading and re-rolling were
continued until the thread crumbles under the pressure was required for rolling and can no
longer be rolled into a 3.2 mm diameter thread.
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5. The portions of the crumbled thread were gathered together and the soil was placed into
moisture can, and then it was covered. (If the can do not contain at least6 grams of soil,
add soil to the can from the next trial.) Immediately the moisture can contain the soil was
weighted, its mass was recorded, and the can was placed into the oven. The moisture can
was left in the oven for at least 16 hours.
6. The steps three, four, and five were repeated at least two more times. The water content
was determined from each trial by using the same method that was used in the first
laboratory. The same balance was used for all weighing.
4.0. Results
Table 1-Data acquired from the Liquid Limit & Plastic Limit tests
Type of
LL LL LL PL PL
Test
No of Blows 29 23 20 - -
Container No 01 02 03 01 02
Wt. of Wet
Soil + Con 42.74 34.04 35.92 11.70 9.09
(g)
Wt. of dry
Soil + Con 38.64 31.35 32.90 11.28 8.80
(g)
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Wt. of Con
18.85 19.12 18.88 7.03 8.34
(g)
Wt. of Water
4.1 2.69 3.02 0.42 0.29
(g)
Wt. of dry
19.79 12.23 14.02 4.25 0.46
Soil (g)
Moisture
20.72 21.99 21.54 9.88 63.04
Content (%)
Wt. of Water (g) = [Wt. of Wet Soil + Con (g)] – [Wt. of dry Soil + Con (g)]
Wt. of dry Soil (g) = [Wt. of dry Soil + Con (g)] – Wt. of Con (g)
𝐖𝐭.𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝐠)
Moisture Content (%) = 𝐖𝐭.𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 (𝐠)
4.1. Calculation
01. Calculate the water content of each of the liquid limit moisture cans after oven-dry
4.1 g
Moisture Content of LL1 = 19.79 g = 20.72%
2.69 g
Moisture Content of LL2 = 12.23 g = 21.99%
3.02 g
Moisture Content of LL3 = 14.02 g = 21.54%
02. Draw the best-fit straight line for the liquid limit and determine the Liquid Limit
(LL)
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2.1. Draw the best-fit straight line for the Liquid Limit
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01. Calculate the water content of each of the plastic limit moisture cans after oven-dry
0.42 g
Moisture Content of PL1 = = 9.88%
4.25 g
0.29 g
Moisture Content of PL2 = = 63.04%
0.46 g
02. Compute the average of the water contents & determine the Plastic Limit (PL)
9.88%+63.04%
= 2
= 36.46 %
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5.0. Discussion
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SL PL LL
The volume of the soil reaches its lowest volume as it dries out
at the shrinkage limit. Before the shrinkage limit, soil volume may not change with the
moisture content although the volume of the soil increases with the moisture content after the
shrinkage limit (Lecture Note).
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Figure 29- The soil pat of grooving & after the vibration in Liquid Limit test
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Figure 30-The soil thread of Plastic Limit test after reaches the diameter into 3.2mm
The difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of
the soil is defined as the Plasticity Index (PI) (Lecture Note). The plasticity index can be
considered as a measure of soil coexistence (State Of New York, 2015). It is an important
parameter that can be used to classify soil type. The engineering concept of soil plasticity has
evolved to explain why some soil failure more than others (Jajurie, 2016).
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Plasticity Chart
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Table 2-Classified the soil based on the Plastic Index (Lecture Note)
The first trial shall be for a closure requiring 25 to 35 drops although we got
no. of drops is 22 for our first trial. Because we added too much water in the sample. Thus, in
that trial, we got the result before fulfilling the above requirement. Therefore, it is the wrong
trial.
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After we added some of the soil & don't add the water, then we got the result
from fulfilling the above requirement. Thus, water content affected our results.
This test should be used distilled water although we used this test the tap
water. This is due to the presence of wastewater in the tap water. Therefore, tap water used
affects our results.
This test should do under room temperature although we did this test under the
condition of air conditioning. The temperature of air condition is 16 0C.The Therefore, the
factor of room temperature affects our results.
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provides information on the state of consistency of soil in the ground. The liquid limit of the
soil can be used to predict the consolidation properties of the soil and to determine the
allowable bearing capacity and settlement of the foundation. Also, the liquid limit value of
the soil is used to calculate the performance of the clay and the hardness index of the soil
(Anon., n.d.). Clay can be classified according to the liquid limit as follows.
LL Plasticity Description
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6.0. Conclusion
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7.0. References
Anon., n.d. Atterberg Limits: Determination of Plastic, Liquid, & Shrinkage Limits.
[Online]
Available at: https://civilseek.com/atterberg-limits/
Jajurie, N.-R., 2016. Lab Report #2: Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of
Soils. [Online]
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Available at:
https://www.academia.edu/28124222/Lab_Report_2_Liquid_Limit_Plastic_Limit_and_Pl
asticity_Index_of_Soils
[Accessed 8 March 2016].
State Of New York, D. O. T., 2015. TEST METHOD FOR LIQUID LIMIT, PLASTIC
LIMIT, AND PLASTICITY INDEX. [Online]
Available at: https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/technical-
services-repository/GTM-7b.pdf
[Accessed AUGUST 2015].
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